A Curious Accordion Folded Book: Chalk Scribbles

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
when closed: 8" x 6", 20 cm x 15 cm
when opened: 8" x 35 1/2", 20 cm x 90 cm

This is an unusual found object: it is an accordion book made of cardboard and it seems that it might have been a giveaway from an ink company--or perhaps the brand of ink mentioned in the printed graphics on the covers of the book manufactured this book.

On the cover the book shows a trademark; Western-style trademarks started to be used in Japan during the Meiji era (1868-1912).

Because of the dark grey paper of each of the pages here it seems that the book was meant to be a kind of traveling blackboard that might have been used by students. The chalk scribbles on each of these pages might not be/probably are not original to the book but they reinforce this idea.

Whatever the case, as it was found and as it is presented here this is a curious object with a high level of artistic appeal.

It is as delightful as it is intriguing.